Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Languages Represented:
English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft
Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.

James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor (1886-1949) was appointed Comptroller of the Currency by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in
1933 and served until 1938 when he resigned to campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in California. Unsuccessful
in this bid, he returned to the practice of law in Los Angeles and in September 1940 was appointed U.S. District Judge, Southern
District.

This collection of letters and diaries was purchased by the Bancroft Library from John Valentine in April 1955. The diaries
(v. 1-8) cover the period April 1933-December 1940. They include comments on political and international events; meetings
with the President, legislators and members of the Roosevelt administration; Democratic national conventions and political
campaigns; conferences and speaking engagements; and social activities. Many have clippings pasted in. The correspondence
(v. 9-21) covers the years 1933-1947, and consists primarily of letters addressed to him, with a few carbon copies of his
outgoing letters. They relate in general to his appointment, his work as Comptroller and New Deal banking legislation, his
speaking engagements, social activities, his political campaigning, his resignation, appointment to the bench, etc. The volumes
are arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically thereunder by name of correspondent, but there are many missing portions.
A partial list of correspondents is included with this report.